Clabence c



c; c. LOTT.

VIBRATING SIGN.

APPLICATION min was. 1915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

lai /7'67: 06

PM W 74/4122 ms noxnss rnsns ca. Pnaroumm. wAsumm-nu. a. c.

UlT

rim

CLARENCE (LLOTT, OF- NEW YORK, N. Y.

VIBRATING SIGN.

Application filed August 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE O. LOTT, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVibrating Signs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to vibrating signs for use in daylight as well asat night, and it has for its object to provide a sign of this kind whichis of improved and simplified construction, durable and may be operatedat a minimum cost.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide improvedmeans for producing an ever changing sinuous or wavelike appearance tothe letters or other characters displayed on the sign, in order toattract attention from a considerable distance.

Another object, is to reduce the friction due to the operation of themovable parts of the sign, thereby saving in the cost of operationbecause with the friction reduced less force or power is required to runthe mechanism for producing the wave-like appearance.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification,and then more specifically defined in the claims at the end of thedescription.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters areused to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:Figure 1 is an elevation of a sign constructed substantially inaccordance with this invention, parts being broken away for the purposeof clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line11-11 of Fig. 1, the same being drawn to a larger scale and showing theantifriction bearings between the sides or edges of the slides. Fig. 3is cross section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, also on an enlargedscale, and showing the construction of the side members of the frame andthe mounting of the ends of the slides therein for reciprocation. Fig. 4is an enlarged detailed vertical section through a portion of the sideframe, showing a j ournal for two adjoining sections of the spiralshaft, and also one of the stationary or dummy slides between theletters on the Specification of Letters Patent.

" of the Patented Aug. 22, 1916. Serial No. 43,356.

sign, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the motor and driving connections tothe spiral shaft.

The sign comprises a frame having side members made of channel bars 1,top and bottom end cross pieces 2 and 3, and end connections or cornerpieces 4. The top plece 2 is also provided with a hood 5 for protectingthe body of the sign from rain or snow.

The body of the sign is composed of a plurality of slides 7 on whichsections or portions of letters or other characters are painted orotherwise attached, and a certain number of stationary or dummy slides 8arranged at the top and bottom of the sign and between the letters. Theletters are preferably painted in white on a dark background,but anycombination of colors calculated to give a striking and attractiveappearance will answer. These slides are superimposed one upon anotherand have their ends extending into the channel bars 1 of the sideportions of the frame, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Angle. bars 6 are attached tothe edges of the channel bars 1. so as to reduce the openings or slotsinto which the slides extend to little more than the thickness of saidslides. The edges of the slides which are presented to one another aregrooved, as at 9, to receive ball bearings 10 for reducing frictionbetween the slides as they are reciprocated one upon another. Thestationary or dummy slides 8 are also fitted with the ball bearings insimilar grooves, and as said stationary slides are rigidly fastened tothe sides 1 of the frame, they serve to support the series of slides 7immediately above them and relieve the weight of the slides composingone letter from those composing the next letter below.

The slides are reciprocated so that each one moves a little in advanceof the next one in order to producethe sinuous or wave-like effect whichis so attractive. This movement slides is accomplished by the use of aspiral shaft 13 arranged in the channel bar 1 at one side of the frame,said shaft extending through wire loops 11 attached to the ends of theslides, Figs. 1 and 3. Wood guides 12 are placed within the channel bar1 to engage the endsof the loops 13 for insuring the properreciprocation of the slides and preventing the faces of said slidesc0n1- ing in contact with the inner edge portions of the angle bars 6,so that the letters will not be scratched or marred.

The shaft 13 is suitably journaled at its upper end, as at 1 1, Fig. 1,While its lower end projects below the sign into a casing 15 Where it isfitted With a worm gear 16 and a thrust bearing 17. The Worm gear mesheswith a worm 18 having suitable driving connections 19 with a motor 20Which may be a very lOW H. P. electric motor. The shaft ma be made insections joined or set in round Babbitt clamps 21, Fig. 1, rotating inrings 22.

The operation will be readily understood from the drawings anddescription. The

motor 20 drives the spiral shaft 13 through the connections 19, Worm 18and Worm gear 16, and the rotation of the said shaft reciprocates theletter bearing slides, giving the sinuous or Wave-like effect to thesign.

It is obvious that detailed changes may be made in this device Withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of thisinvention.

The sign may be suitably secured to the side of a building by bracketsin the ordinary manner. The sign may, of course, have letters or othercharacters on both faces thereof, so as to be seen from oppositedirections.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and deslre tosecure by Letters Patent of the'United States is 1. A sign of thecharacter described having a plurality of slides bearing characters,means for reciprocating said slides, and antifriction bearings betweenthe adjacent edges of the slides.

2. A sign of the character described having a plurality of slidesbearing characters,

a frame including side portions of channel form inclosing the ends ofthe slides, means in the channel for reciprocating the slides, and anglebars secured to the margins of the channel and extending in nearto thefaces of the slides.

3. A sign of the character described having a plurality of slidesbearing characters, a frame including side portions of channel forminclosing the ends of the slides, loops attached to the slides andarranged in the channel, a spiral shaft engaging said loops forreciprocating the slides, and means for driving said shaft. 7

i. A sign of the character described having a plurality of slidesbearing characters, a frame including side portions of channel forminclosing the ends of the slides, loops attached to the slides andarranged in the channel, a spiral shaft engaging said loops forreciprocating the slides, and a motor having driving connection withsaid shaft and supported on the frame of the sign.

5. A sign of the character described having a plurality of slidesbearing characters, a frame including side portions of channelforininclosing the ends of the slides, loops attached to the slides andarranged in the channel, a shaft engaging said loops for reciprocatingthe slides, and guides in the channel for retaining the slides in properalinement during reciprocation.

6. A sign of the character described having a plurality of slidesbearing characters, a frame including side portions of channel forminclosing the ends of the slides, a spiral shaft engaging the slides forreciprocating the same in the channel, a cylindrical body formed aroundthe shaft, and a collar fixed in the channel and fitted loosely aroundsaid cylindrical body to form a journal for the shaft at an intermediatepoint thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARENCE C. LOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

